A Lagos Magistrate Court in Ogba has ordered the remand of Ayomide Adeleye, who has confessed to the murder of 21-year-old Christianah Idowu, in the Lagos Correctional Facility, Kirikiri.
According to the AFP, the presiding magistrate, Seyi Omodara, made the decision on Thursday following Adeleye’s arraignment by the state for charges of kidnapping and murder.
Adeleye faces a two-count, which includes violating the Kidnapping Prohibition Law of 2017 and the Criminal Law of Lagos State (2015).
According to the charges, Adeleye lured Idowu into a shop in front of his father’s house in Ikorodu on August 19, 2024, where he held her hostage and extorted N360,000 from her family under the false pretense of releasing her.
The charge further read: “That you, Ayomide Adeleye, on the same date, time, and place, did unlawfully kill one Christianah Idowu and buried her in a shallow grave within your father’s compound, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State (2015).”
Rita Ozobia, the foster mother of the deceased, was present in court, accompanied by friends. She recounted her dealings with Adeleye, particularly his demand for ransom, and how she discovered that her foster daughter had been killed.
In response to the charges, Magistrate Omodara directed that Adeleye’s audio confession be preserved on a CD and that his case file be duplicated as they await advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution.
A court staff, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that the case will be transferred to a State High Court once the DPP’s advice is received.
Meanwhile, police investigations uncovered additional bones at Adeleye’s residence, though forensic analysis revealed them to be animal bones.
Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine whether Adeleye had accomplices and if he is linked to other murders.
A police source stated, “He has denied any involvement in the death of his sister. On social media, he hinted that if things had been handled differently, she might still be alive.
However, he told investigators that on the day she died, she left the house for a few minutes, returned unconscious, and that’s how she passed away.”
Adeleye has since confessed to killing Idowu, though he insists it was not premeditated.
